The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-12-15

overlook the TACT that they are consumers
| with the rest: that they, tOO have their OWL
wants and those of their families to supply
from their earnings, and that the price OF
/ the neceSSaricS of life, as well as the amount
of their wages, will regulate the measure OF
their welfare and comfort.
WHERE THE TARIFF HITS THE LABORER
"But the reduction of taxation demanded
should be so measured as not to neceSsitate
or justify either the loss of employment by
the wOrklngman nor the lessening of bis
wages, aud the profits still remaining to the
manufacturer after necessary readjust-
ment should furnish no excuse for the
sacrifice of the interests of his employees
either In their opportunity to work or in the
diminution of their compensation. Nor
can the worker In manufactures fail to
understand that while high tariff is claimed
to be necessary to allow the payment of
remuneratlve wages, it certainly,resuIts In a
very large increase in the price of nearly all
sorts OF manufactures, which, in almost
/ countless forms, he needs for the use of
himself and his family. He receives at the
desk of his employer his wages, and per-
haps before he reaches home IS obliged, In a
purchase for family use of an article which
embraces his own labor, to return, In the
payment of the increase In price which the
tariff permits, the hard-earned compensa-
ton of many days of toll.
-" The farmer and agriculturist who manu-
factures nothing, but who pays the increased
price which the tariff imposes upon every
agricultural implement, upon all ne wears
ana upon all he uses and owns except the
increase of his focks and herds and such
things as his huSbandry produces from the
soil, Is invited to aid in maintaining the
present situation, and he Is told that high
duty on imported wool is necessary for the
benefit of those who have sheep to shear, In
order that the price of their wool may be IN
creased. They, OF course, are not reminded
that the farmer who has no sheep is by this
scheme obliged in his purchases of clothing
and wOOlen goods to pay a tribute to his
fellow-farmer as well as to the manufactures
and merchant nor is any mention made OF
the fact that the sheep-owners themselves
and their households must wear clothing
and use other articles manufactured from
the wool they sell at tariff prices, ana thus,
as consumers must return their share of this
increased price to the tradeSman. / think 1t
may be fairly assumed that large proper
ton OF the sheep owned by the farmers
throughout the country are found in small
The duty on the grade of imported wool
which these sheep yield is 10 cents each
pound if of the value of 80 cents or less, and
II cents II of the value of more n SO
cents. If the liberal estimate of six pounds
be allowed for each fleece, the duty thereon
would De 60 or ~ cents, and this may be
taken as the utmost enhancement of its
price to the farmer by reason of this duty.
Eighteen dollars would thus represent the
increased price Oi the wool from twenty
fve-sheep and $50 that from the wool of
fifty sheep; and at present values this ad-
dition would amount to about One-thIrd Of
Its price. Ii upon its sale the farmer re-
ceives this or a less tariff profit, the wool
leaves his hands charged with precisely that
sum, which in all its changes will adhere
to It until it reaches the consumer. When
manufactured into cloth and other goods
and material for use Its cost Is not only In
creased to the extent of the farmaG tariff
profit but further sum has been ad1ed for
the benefit OF the manufacturer under the
operation of other tariff laws. In the mean
time the day arrives when the farmer finds It
necessary TO purchase wooden goods and ma
terial to clOthe himself and family for the
winter. When he faces the tradesman for that
purpose he discovers that he is obliged not
only to return in the way of increased
prices his tariff profit on the wool he sold,
and which then perhaps lies before him
in manufactured form, but that he must
add considerable sum thereto to meet
further increase in cost caused by tariff
duty on the manufacture Thus in the
end he is aroused to the fact that he has
paid upon moderate purchase, as a re-
suit OF the tariff scheme, which when he
sold his wool seemed so profitable, an in
crease in price more than sufficient to
sweep away all the tariff profit he re-
ceived upon the wool he produced and
sold.
when the number of farmers engaged
tn wool raising Is compared with all the
farmers in the country, and the small pro-
portion they bear to our population is con-
Sidered; when it is made apparent that In
the case OF large part of those who own
sheep, the benefit OF the present tariff on
wool is iIlusory, and, above all, when it
must be conceded that the increase of the
cost of living caused by such tariff becomes
burden upon those with moderate means
and the poor, the employed and unemployed,
the sick and we'll, and the young and old,
and tnat 1t constitutes tax which, with
relentless grasp. is fastened upon the cloth
ing ct every man, woman and child in
the land, reasons are suggested why the
removal or reduction of this duty should
be included in a revision of our tariff laws.
TRUSTS" ARE SELFISH SCHEMES.
I'm speaking of the increased cost to the
consumer OF our home manufactures re-
sulting from duty laid upon imported
articles of the same description the TACT is
not overlooked that competition among our
domestic producers sometimes has the ct
feet vi keeping the price of their products
below the highest limit allowed by snch
duty. But it is notorious that this compe-
titi0n is too often strangled by combinations
quite prevalent at this time and frequently
called trusts, which have for their object
and reg ulatlon of the supply and price of
the commodities made and sold by men,
berS of the combination. The people can
hardly hope for any consideration In the
operation of these selfish schemes. If,
however, in the absence of such cOmbina-
ton, healthy and free competition re-
duces the price OF any particular dutiable
object of home production below the limit
which it might otherwise reach under our
tariff laws, and II, With such reduced price,
entirely evident that one thing has been
discovered which should be carefully scru-
tiniZed in an effort to reduce taxation.
1.-The necessity of combination to MAIN
tain the price Of any commodity to the tar
III point furnishes proof that some one Is
willing to accept lower prices for such COM
modify and that such prices are remunera-
tive, and lower prices produced by compe-
ton prove the same thing. Thus where
either of these conditions exists case would
seem to be presented for any easy reduction
of taxation.
1.-The considerations which have been pre-
sented touching our tariff laws are intended
only to enforce an earnest recommendation
that the surplus revenue OF the government
be prevented by the reduction of our Gus
tom duties, and, at the same time, to en-
phaSiZe suggestion that in accomplishing
this purpose we may discharge double
duty to our people by granting to them q
measure OF relief from tariff taxation in
quarters where 1t is most needed and from
sources where it can be most fairly and
justly accorded. Nor can the presentation
made OF such considerations be, with any
degree of fairness, regarded as evidence OF
unfriendliness toward our manufacturing
interests, or of any lack of appreciation OF
their value and importance.
These interests constitute leading and
most substantial element of our national
greatness. and furnish the proud proof of
our country's progress. But if, in the emer-
gency that presses upon us, our manufac-
turers are asked TO surrender something for
the public good and to avert disaster their
patriotism, as well as grateful recognition
of advantages already afforded should lead
them to willing cooperation. No demand
is made that they shall forego all the bene-
hts of governmental regard; but they can
not fail to be admoniShed of their duty as
well as their enlightened self-interest and
safety when they are reminded of the fact
that financial panic and collapse, to which
the preseat condition tends, afford no
greater shelter or protection to our manu-
facturers than to our other important enter
prises. Opportunity for sale, careful and
deliberate reform is now offered; and none
of us should be unmundful of time when
| an absurd and irritated people, needless of
those who have resisted timely and unrea-
sonable relief, may insist upon a radical
and sweeping rectiicatiOn of their wrongs.
"rhe difficulty attending wise and fair
revision of our tariff laws Is not underesti-
mated. 1t will require on the part of con-
gresS great labor and care, and especially
broad and national contemplation of the
subject, and patriotic disregard of sucn
local and selfish claims as are unreasonable
and reckless of the welfare of the entire
country.
Under our present laws more than four
nd iaFa To iIlfv